A MOTHER of two from Blackwood was sentenced to 27 months in prison after pleading guilty to theft and burglary.

Victoria Banks, 28, from Rhosnewydd Terrace, pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and theft, and was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard that Banks had been the driver for Liam Aherne, aged 25, of James Street, Markham, in Blackwood, whom she was in a relationship with when he committed the offences, for which he has also been sentenced.

It was said that on February 24 last year, Aherne broke into Trinant Hall at 4.30am and was confronted by the owner.

Aherne then began to wave a hammer around and demanded money.

Phone records show that exchanges had taken place between Banks and Aherne, which showed that Banks was aware of what was happening and participated in dropping off and picking up Aherne.

Then on February 25, at 10.40am, Aherne snatched a bag off Tina Williams, who worked at Markham Miners Welfare Club, Blackwood.

The bag contained £5,470.48 of takings from the club and the club’s bank paying in book.

The court was told that Banks had driven Aherne to the area and phone records showed that she sought to borrow money and would be in possession of £5,000.

At the time of the offences, the pair were staying in a Cardiff hotel, and police found ecstasy and amphetamines in the room, as well as £2,000 in cash, along with the miners club paying in book.

The court heard that Aherne is currently serving 12 years for a series of offences, after pleading guilty to charges of robbery and theft.

The court was also told that Banks has co-operated with police and entered guilty pleas at the first opportunity.

It was also said that she is desperate to regain the love and trust of her children and mother.

Sentencing her, Judge Thomas Edward Crowther QC said: “It seems that you spent your days in a hotel taking drugs and the nights on a crime spree.”

Banks was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment for burglary and three months for theft, to run consecutively .